Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2014 / ib / Paper 1 / 14D / b / Solution

Set $U=R(r)\Theta (\theta )$ in the Laplace equation, multiply by $r^2/U$, and separate:Putting $x=\cos \theta$ turns the angular equation into the Legendre differential equation. For a solution smooth on the whole spherical axis, the allowed eigenvalues are $\lambda =n(n+1)$ with angular functions $P_n(\cos \theta )$. The radial equation has the two solutions $r^n,r^{-n-1}$. Superposition yields the regular axisymmetric expansionThe coefficients and convergence region are set by the domain and boundary data. Without regularity at the poles, singular Legendre functions and more general separated degrees would also be possible; they are excluded for this exterior spherical field.

The far-field matching fixes $A_1=v_0$ and all other growing coefficients to zero. The radial Neumann boundary condition at $r_0$ isIndependence of the angular modes gives $B_1=v_0{r}_0^3/2$ and all other decaying coefficients zero. Thus the exterior harmonic potential with no flux through a sphere isIts derivative vanishes on the sphere and its difference from $v_{0}r\cos \theta$ tends to zero at infinity. A spatial constant may be added if the far-field condition is intended only to specify the gradient or the leading growing term; matching the potential difference to zero fixes that constant to zero.